Abstract
The interaction between epigenetic mechanisms and the gut microbiome is potentially crucial for the development and maintenance of intestinal health. Lysine acetylation, an important post-translational modification, plays a complex and critical role in the epigenetic regulation of the host by the gut microbiota. However, there are currently no reports on how gut microbiota dysbiosis affects host physiology in early life through global lysine acetylation. In this study, we constructed a mouse model of gut microbiota dysbiosis using antibiotic cocktail therapy (ABX). Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the cecum, we analyzed the cecal lysine acetylome and proteome. As a result, we profiled the lysine acetylation landscape of the cecum and identified a total of 16,579 acetylation sites from 5218 proteins. Differentially acetylated proteins (DAPs) are involved in various metabolic pathways, including the citrate cycle (TCA cycle), butanoate metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and fatty acid biosynthesis. Moreover, both glycolysis and gluconeogenesis are significantly enriched in acetylation and protein modifications. This study aimed to provide valuable insights into the epigenetic molecular mechanisms associated with host protein acetylation as influenced by early-life gut microbiota disturbances. It reveals potential therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders linked to gut microbiota dysbiosis, thereby establishing a theoretical foundation for the clinical prevention and treatment of diseases arising from such dysbiosis.